Timing device



July 23, 1968 R. w. BINGHAM TIMING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 20, 1966 $2.00 ALL DAY 3 oO 7 Q/ E .n N

8 K 4/ P 6l 0 s j J L O 5 O 5 O O 0 Wn 3. ...J/f An 5. 7. o0. 0. G. 5 O 5 0 5 O 5 0 mm. 3. 5 6. o0. 9 l w wmwuwwwwvanmmwmag 4 51.....tomwmmwmmmmmwmmase....-a.wwvrrvnnvw b FIND TIME YOU PARKED HERE ATTORNEY July 23, 1968 R, W. BINGHAM TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 8 z O MJU 7nd I 0505 SOS S05 50505 S s s443w221wooss44332 ...wn TWWWWrWTW7WG$$$$S$ .Zvs 6 OOOOOOOOOOOOCOOO o D 2 V y. .x54 5 NVENTOR ROBERT BINGHAM @1,1m- (La.

ATTRNEY July 23, 196s Filed Jan. 20, 1966 R. W. BINGHAM TIMING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ROBERT W. BI NGHAM ATTORNEY July 23, 1968 R W BINGHAM 3,393,507

TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.5

INVENTOR ROBERT W. BINGHAM ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,393,507 TIMING DEVICE Robert W. Bingham, St. Louis, M0. (3642 Imperial Gardens, St. Ann, M0. 63114) Filed Jan. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 521,855 3 Claims. (Cl. 58-148) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A timing device for readily demonstrating the charge for an elapsed period of time utilizing a casing having a front panel bearing rate-indicia which is sub-divided into sectors each denoting a predetermined charge, said panel having an opening adjacent said indicia for illustrating time increments which are carried on an endless belt, said belt being provided within said casing and operated by drive and switch means and being synchronous with a clock motor which effects continuous advancement of the belt.

This invention relates in general to timing devices, and, more particularly, to a device for ready correlation of elapsed time with predetermined time-rate schedules.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a timing device which is adapted to automatically indicate elapsed time and a resultant charge for the time thus elapsed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a timing device which is adapted for continuous operation and which obviates resort to computation by service personnel with the frequent customary errors, miscalculations and the like.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a timing device of the character stated which demonstrates the charge for elapsed time eliminating the time consuming determinations by service personnel, so that users of the particular service may rapidly pay the requisite charge, avoiding the customary queue, such as is particularly encountered at garages, parking lots, and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a timing device which is of sturdy construction, having marked simplicity of parts so as to be resistant to breakdown; which is highly efficient in operation; which does not require the services of skilled personnel for operation; and which is completely durable and reliable in usage.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following descrip-tion, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings (4 sheets) wherein- FIGURE 1 is a front view of a timing device constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of FIG- URE 3 illustrating the switch actuating arm in engaged relationship.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the switch actuating arm immediately after switch engagement.

3,393,507 Patented July 23, 1968 ICC FIGURE 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE l0 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 1t 10 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A generally designates a timing device comprising a rectangular casing 1, having a pair of side walls, 2, 3, a back wall 4, and top and bottom walls 5, 6. The front of said casing 1 is closed by a plate 7, having applied, for otherwise inscribed, thereon indicia as indicated generally at 8, and to be described more fully hereinbelow; said plate being retained in position as by means of border-forming retaining strips 9. Suitably secured, as by welding, to the undersurface of top wall 5 are the short legs 10, 10' of a pair of transversely spaced apart, angl,.- shaped bearing brackets l1, l1', having parallel depending legs, 12, 12', respectively. Said legs 12, 12 are provided with bearing openings for journaling therein of the ends of a shaft 13, extending transversely therebetween. Fixed 0n shaft 13 for rotation therewith, as by keying or the like, is a mandrel 14; said mandrel being diametrally increased at its ends to define guide portions 15, 15. Disposed about mandrel 14 and retained against lateral shifting by said guide members 15, 15 is indicia-bearing endless belt or web 16, the lower or opposite end portion of which is suitably trained about a mandrel 17, having end guide flanges 18, 18 and being fixed upon a shaft 20 journaled at its ends in angle-shaped bearing brackets 21, 21', secured upon bottom plate 6. Said belt 16 may be constructed of any suitable material, but is preferably formed of plastic, such as Mylar 1, and has provided on its outer face throughout its entire extent with a vertically presented series of transversely extending numerals delining a twelve-hour period in live-minute increments, as indicated generally at 22. It will be observed that the numerals indicated at 22 may relate to other time units than that illustrated, but the latter is shown for exemplary purposes only. Belt 16 is also provided throughout its extent along one edge portion thereof with a row of perforations or apertures 23, for purposes to be described hereinbelow.

Shaft 20 is driven through means of a gear train designated 24 by a drive shaft 25 of a prime mover or motor indicated M; said gear train 24 comprising a spur gear 26 mounted on drive shaft 25 and in meshing relationship with an idler gear 27, carried on a stub shaft 28 suitably mounted on bearing bracket 21'; with idler gear 27 meshing with a pinion 29 engaged on shaft 20 for completing the train.

Disposed on the outwardly directed face `of bearing bracket 21 is a conventional clock moto-r 30 connected to a convenient source of electrical power for continuous operation; said motor 30 having a drive shaft 31 which is journaled in a bearing in bracket 21, and which on its inner end portion mounts a gear 32 for meshing engagement with a cog wheel 33 presented upon shaft 20 for rotation independently thereof.

With reference being made to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, it is to be noted that the radii of gear 32 and cog wheel 33 are such as to cause the same to rotate in opposite directions at a ratio of five (5) revolutions of the former to each revolution of the latter. The radius of gear 32 is such that the sarne will complete one revolution for each minute of operation of clock motor 30, whereby cog wheel 33 will accordingly complete its revolution every tive minutes, all for reasons presently appearing. Eccentrically secured to the normally inwardly directed, or bracketconfronting face, of cog wheel '33 is an arm 34 with the lTrademtu-k ot E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., for film of polyethylene terephthalate resin.

point of attachment, as indicated at 35, forming a pivot axis so that arm 34 will be swingable thereabout. Said arm 34 is provided with an arcuate slot 36, the end portions of ywhich are formed on a like radius as shaft 20, which latter projects therethrough so that the extent of swingability of arm 34 about its pivot axis 35 is determined by the extent of slot 36 by reason of the engagement of the end portions thereof with shaft 20. Said arm 34 is of substantially greater extent than the diameter of cog wheel 33, and is engaged to projecting portion indicated at 34 which extends beyond the periphery of cog wheel 33 and is formed of magnetizable metal for attraction to the adjacent end face of mandrel 17, for purposes to be shown. At its outer end arm portion 34' is free and mounts a finger 37 extending normally outwardly for en-gaging the terminal bar 38 of a normally open micro-switch 39 secured upon the inwardly directe-d face of bearing bracket 21 proximate bottom wall 6.

Upon rotation, cog wheel 33 will cause arm 34 to be carried therewith, although due to the attraction of portion 34 to mandrel 17, there will be some drag when the latter is stationary. However, arm 34 will swing relatively to shaft 20 because of the change in position of its center of gravity relative to said shaft 20, whereby arm 34 will be swung to cause finger 37 to be brought into contact with terminal bar 38 for depressing the latter and thereby closing switch 39. Due to t-he relative shifting of the center of gravity of arm 34 during its course of swing, the same will be brought relatively forcefully downwardly for effecting positive closing of switch 39. Switch '39 is in circuit, as by suitable conductors, with an electrical power source and prime mover M, so that upon closing, it will cause actuation of prime mover M with resultant rotation of -mandrel 17 and travel of belt 16. Through normal operation, switch 39 would remain closed for that portion of each tive-minute time increment that finger 3-7 remains in positive engagement with terminal bar 38; such interval being determined by t'he character o'f bar 38 and the particular relationship thereto by linger 37.

Connected in parallel relationship with micro-switch 39 is another normally-open micro-switch 42 being in circuit with prime mover M preferably supported from the undersurface of a cross bar 43 extending transversely between the upper ends of brackets 21, 21' and being locate-d for wardly of mandrel 17 (FIGURE 5) immediately adjacent belt 16. Said micro-switch 42 is provided with an actuating arm 44 which mounts at its end a roller 45 dimensioned for reception within the perforations or .apertures 23 of endless belt 16. Switch arm 44 is biased into switch-open position wherein the roller 4S will project into the aligned perforation (FIGURES 3 and 9). Upon travel of belt 16 through energization of prime mover M, roller 45 will be forced by the now-moving belt 16 outwardly from engagement within the erstwhile contacted perforation 23 with attendant rocking of switch arm 44 to cause closure of switch 42; the portion of belt 16 between adjacent perforations 23 thus retaining roller 45 outwardly. As the next successive perforation 23 comes into alignment with roller 45, the latter will, through the inherent bias of switch arm 44, swing thereinto and consequently effect opening of micro-switch 42. Accordingly, said switch 42 will be closed only during the portion of travel of belt 16 between adjacent perforations 23.

If desired, another micro-switch may be located in adjacency to micro-switch 42 and having a similar terminal bar with roller for like engagement within a second row of openings (not shown) throughout the extent of belt 16 for intermittent circuit closure for the purpose of energizing a sound box designated broadly at S for effecting the sound reproduction of an instructional or advertising message during the interval of travel of belt 16 between alignment of adjacent perforations in such additional sequence.

Provided within casing 1, as by suitable mounting within brackets provided on back wall 4, is a pair of llamps indicated L which may be desirably of the flourescent type for illumination of closure plate 7, should the latter be oonstructed of transluscent material; lamps L being connected in parallel and in circuit with a control box B also conveniently securable upon back wall 4 of casing 1, and integrally provided with `a conventional transformer.

Closure plate 7, which may be of any suitable material, whether translucent or otherwise, is provided on its forward face with an elongated, vertically progressing opening 46, which is substantially co-extensive with belt 16 and of such width that the numerals or indicia 22 thereon are fully, and easily, visible. Provided above opening 46 may be inscribed the word Time and with suitable designative matter 47 indicating that the current moment of time is that appearing at the upper end of belt 16. Adjacent said opening 46, the face of closure plate 7 may Kbe suitably subdivided by lines 48 into a series of transversely extending boxes 49, of predetermined vertical extent for correspondence with a pre-selected time interval, such as, for instance, one-half hour, or to a correlated length of belt 16. The boxes 49 may be further subdivided into spaces as at 50', to set forth a predetermined rate to correlate with the related time interval. In referring to FIG. l, it will be seen that a rate of 35 would be a charge for the first time interval of 30 minutes or that between 11:25 and 11:55, while a charge of 50 would be assessed for a full hour, etc.

In operation with timing device A, connected to a source of electrical power, lamps L will be illuminated and clock motor 30 will be energized causing shaft 31 to be rotated with motion being transmitted from gear 32 to cog wheel 33 causing the latter to rotate about the axis dened by shaft 20. When finger 37 is brought into engagement with terminal bar 38, micro-switch 39 will be closed, as above described, so as to thereby close the circuit to prime mover M for energization thereof, whereby through gear train 24 rotation of shaft 20 will result, effecting travel of endless belt 16 in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIGURE 3. By such movement of belt 16, roller 45 of arm 44 of micro-switch 42 will be forced outwardly of its then engaged perforation 23, all as above described, bringing out a swinging of arm 44 for closing of switch `42 and being retained in such closed condition until roller 45 enters the next succeeding perforation 23 wherein switch 42 will open. Thus, during the interval switch 42 is closed, prime mover M is connected thereby to the source of electrical power.

As closure of micro-switch 39 will energize prime mover M with resulting rotation of shaft 20, the end face of mandrel 17, adjacent arm portion 34 will exercise its attraction thereon and cause said arm portion 34 to move therewith bringing about a withdrawal of finger 37 from engagement with terminal bar 38 whereby switch 39 will be restored to its normally open condition. Since microswitch 42 is at such moments still in closed condition, prime mover M will continue to be activated so that shaft 20 will continue its rotation until roller 45 is received within the next succeeding perforation 23. Thereon micro-switch 42 is open and with both such micro-switches being then open the circuit will be open t0 prime mover M which will discontinue operation. Accordingly, prime mover M will operate only as long as one or the other of said micro-switches are closed.

By the foregoing, it is thus apparent that belt 16- is caused to travel at pre-determined intervals so as to register the passage of each selected increment of time--ve (5) minutes as in the present instance. Thus, belt 16 will remain stationary until caused to move in the manner above described for registering the elapse of the next successive time unit.

As belt 16 travels, it will move relative to the rate-containing panels or sections on closure plate 7 so that a viewer may by a very quick glance, note the charge for the time elapsed by observing such viewers starting time and the rate adjacent thereto. For example, if a viewers starting time is 11:25 as shown in FIGURE l, and the individual returns two hours later, the notation or starting time 11:25 will have been advanced within opening 46 to a position adjacent the box containing the charge of 80.

In view of the foregoing, it is evident that by use of timing device A, a customer or user may visually determine the appropriate charge for the elapsed time without the intervening efforts of an attendant to effect calculations and to permit ready payment without waiting for an attendant to laboriously compute the charges for a multiplicity of customers.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the timing device may be made and substituted -for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A timing device comprising means defining a housing, an endless belt disposed in said housing and having time "increment indicators applied thereon, support means for said belt, belt advance means engaged to said belt support means, a clock motor, means continuously operating said clock motor, a first normally open switch in circuit with said belt advancing means, motion transmitting means disposed between said clock motor and said first normally open switch for effecting circuit closure of the latter at pre-determined intervals for energizing said belt a-dvancing means, and a second normally open switch in circuit with said belt advancing means and being closeable by engagement with said belt upon travel thereof for effecting opening of said first switch.

2. A timing device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said belt having plurality of perforations extending throughout its length, and said second switch being disposed adjacent said belt and having an arm biased toward said belt, a roller provided on the end of said arm for reception within the confronting perforation on said belt for maintaining said switch in open condition, whereby upon travel of said belt said roller will be forced outwardly causing said arm to move into switch closed condition.

3. A timing device comprising means defining a housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing having a time increment indicator thereon applied, support means for said belt, said support means comprising a pair of axially parallel, vertically spaced apart shafts, a prime mover operatively connected to one of said shafts for driving same to advance said belt, first switch means in circuit with said prime mover, said switch means being normally open, a clock motor, means continuously operating said clock motor, a drive gear operatively connected to said clock motor and being continuously driven lby same, a cog wheel being rotatably mounted in meshing engagement with said drive gear, an arm eccentrically swingably mounted on said cog wheel, said arm being adapted to engage said first switch means at predetermined time intervals, means limiting the swingable movement 0f said arm, said belt having a plurality of perforations extending throughout its extent with spacing between same corresponding to the time differential between successive time increment indicators, second switch means being in circuit with said prime mover, said second switch means being normally open and having means receivable within said perforation and upon travel of said belt, said means will be expelled from said perforation for closing said second switch means, said second switch being opened upon reception of said means within the next successive belt perforation, means for moving said arm out of engagement with said vfirst switch means upon advancement of said belt for opening said first switch means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,427 4/1915 Scha a- 58--149 1,149,516 8/ 1915 Hirshberg 23S-'86 1,913,068 6/1933 Cato 235--86 2,797,863 7/ 1957 Shepard 58--141 3,024,590 3/1962 Wynne 116-135 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner. 

